State Rep. Nancy Jenkins on Thursday called for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to withdraw its federal complaint regarding schools using Native American imagery as mascots and logos.

Local schools, as well as the state Board of Education and Michigan Department of Education, were given little to no notice before the complaint was filed, said a news release from Jenkins’ office.

The complaint asks for the use of Native American names, mascots, slogans, chants and imagery in K-12 schools receiving federal funding to be banned.

“Putting our local schools’ education funding at risk without even trying to work out the potential issue locally is irresponsible and thoughtless of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights,” Jenkins, R-Clayton, said in the news release. “Before taking such drastic action, the department should have brought their concerns to the school districts, where the issue should be addressed. I urge the department to withdraw their complaint and handle this concern properly.”

Jenkins represents most of Lenawee County, including two school districts named in the state’s complaint, Tecumseh and Clinton. Tecumseh’s nickname is the Indians; Clinton’s is the Redskins.

The state filed its complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights last week. The complaint says research shows the use of those mascots and imagery causes “actual harm” to American Indian students by lowering self-esteem and impacting student achievement. It says such imagery creates an unequal learning environment in violation of the federal 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Other state lawmakers have also called on the state Department of Civil Rights to withdraw the complaint.

Republican state Sen. Bruce Caswell of Pittsford, who represents Lenawee County in the state Senate, has no comment on the complaint, said Caswell spokesman David Marvin.